EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
This Executive Employment Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into this May ___, 2009 by
and between Xxxx Holding Corporation, a Delaware corporation, with its principal executive office
at 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxx (the “Company”), and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, an individual,
residing in Ohio (“Executive”), effective July 1, 2009 (the “Effective Date”).
RECITALS
| A. | The Company desires to employ Executive as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. | ||
| B. | The Company and Executive desire to enter into this Agreement as to the terms of Executive’s employment by the Company to be effective as of July 1, 2009. |
Therefore, in consideration of the promises and respective covenants and agreements of the
parties herein contained, and intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto agree as follows:
| 1. | Employment The Company and Executive hereby agree that as of the Effective Date Executive shall be employed by the Company on the terms set forth in this Agreement. | |
| 2. | Term. The employment of Executive by the Company under the terms of this Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue in effect for an initial three (3) year period. Upon the second anniversary of the Effective Date, and on each successive anniversary, the period shall be automatically extended by one (1) year (so that on every anniversary of the Effective Date thereafter the remaining term shall be for two (2) years), unless either party gives notice to the other party at least ninety (90) days prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date or such next anniversary, as applicable, that the employment period shall expire at the end of the initial three (3) year period or such two (2)-year period, as applicable, without extension (the initial and each successive employment period being the “Term”), unless earlier terminated as set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement. Executive’s employment after expiration of the Term shall be at-will and not governed by this Agreement (other than by provisions that by their terms survive such expiration). | |
| 3. | Position and Duties. Executive shall serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, reporting to the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company (“Board”), and shall have such responsibilities and authority commensurate with such position as may from time to time be assigned to Executive by the Board. Executive shall devote substantially all his working time and efforts to the business and affairs of the Company. However, Executive may devote reasonable time to supervision of his personal investments and professional, charitable, educational, religious and other similar activities, and speaking engagements, provided such activities are not competitive with the Company and do not interfere with Executive’s discharge of his duties to the Company. Executive may serve on the board of directors of any company or organization with the Board’s prior written consent. The Board consents to Executive continuing to serve on the board of directors of The Lubrizol Corporation. | |
| 4. | Directorship Agreement. As soon as reasonably possible after the Effective Date, Executive shall be appointed as a member of the Board. While serving as a Director, the Board shall re-nominate Executive from term to term while acting as President and Chief Executive Officer. Upon Executive’s ceasing to be President and Chief Executive Officer, Executive shall immediately resign as a Director. |
| 5. | Compensation and Related Matters. During the Term, Executive shall be entitled to the following amounts and benefits: |
| 5.1 | Salary. The Company shall pay to Executive a salary of $1,000,000 per year (the “Base Salary”), which rate may be increased (but not decreased, except for across-the-board decreases applicable with like proportionate effect to other senior executives of the Company) from time to time in accordance with normal business practices of the Company, in the discretion of the Board. The Base Salary shall be payable by the Company in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company then in effect. Any increase or decrease in the Base Salary amount shall thereafter be Executive’s “Base Salary” for all purposes hereunder. | ||
| 5.2 | Bonus. Executive shall be eligible for an annual bonus with a target amount equal to 100% of Executive’s Base Salary pursuant to the annual incentive program under the Company’s 2008 Omnibus Incentive Plan (“Plan”). Executive’s eligibility for the bonus and the amount thereof shall be based on the achievement of performance measures set by the Board of Directors. The Executive’s target bonus percentage will be reviewed by the Board at least annually for its competitiveness and in light of any new responsibilities assumed by the Executive. | ||
| 5.3 | Annual Long Term Incentive Program. Executive shall be eligible for annual awards pursuant to the long term incentive program under the Plan, commencing with awards granted to senior executives in fiscal 2010, as determined in the sole discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Board or the Board. The Company’s intent is to provide a long term incentive program that is market competitive for comparable industry positions. | ||
| 5.4 | Stock Option. As an inducement to Executive to enter into this Agreement, on the Effective Date, Executive shall be awarded a nonqualified stock option pursuant to the Plan to purchase up to 1,500,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock at an exercise price equal to the Market Value Per Share (as defined under the Plan) on the date of award (the “Option”). The Option shall have a 10-year term, shall vest and become exercisable as to 500,000 shares on each of the first, second and third anniversaries of the Effective Date provided that Executive remains continuously employed by the Company until each such date for such respective installment to so vest, and shall be documented in accordance with the Company’s standard form of Nonqualified Stock Option Agreement to be entered into between the Company and Executive that otherwise is consistent with the terms hereof; provided, the Option shall become fully vested and exercisable upon the first to occur of (i) the involuntary termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (and not due to Disability) or Executive’s voluntary termination for Good Reason and shall remain exercisable for six months following the date of such termination (or any such earlier expiration of the Option term) (with such capitalized terms having the meaning defined below) or (ii) a Change in Control of the Company (as defined under the Plan). | ||
| 5.5 | Restricted Stock Units. As a further inducement, on the Effective Date Executive shall be awarded 200,000 restricted stock units under the Plan (the “Restricted Stock Units”), vesting on February 28, 2011, provided that Executive remains continuously employed by the Company until such date for the Restricted Stock Units to so vest. The Restricted Stock Units shall be paid to Executive in shares of Company common stock within two and one-half (2-1/2) months after the date of vesting. Executive shall be entitled to |
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| payment of dividend equivalents on the Restricted Stock Units, subject to vesting above, as and when dividends are paid to stockholders on the Company’s common stock, which dividend equivalents shall be converted into further restricted stock units (based on the Market Value Per Share on the date that dividends are paid to the Company’s stockholders) and paid, to the extent becoming vested, together with the payment of the Restricted Stock Units above. The Restricted Stock Units shall be documented in accordance with the Company’s standard form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement to be entered into between the Company and Executive that otherwise is consistent with the terms hereof. The Restricted Stock Units shall vest and become immediately payable upon the first to occur of (i) an involuntary termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause (and not due to Disability) or Executive’s voluntary termination for Good Reason or (ii) a Change in Control of the Company. In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause after the payment of the Restricted Stock Units and prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date, he shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay the Company an amount equal to the product of (A) the product of the number of shares constituting all of the Restricted Stock Units previously paid to Executive (including any dividend equivalents thereon) multiplied by the Market Value Per Share on the date of such termination multiplied by (B) the ratio of the number of days from the date of termination until such second anniversary to 730 days (the “RSU Repayment Amount”). In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, Executive shall have no obligation to repay the RSU Repayment Amount upon a voluntary termination of his employment for any reason thereafter. | |||
| 5.6 | Cash Award. As a further inducement, on the Effective Date Executive shall receive a cash award in the amount of $550,000 (“Cash Award”). In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, he shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay the Cash Award in full to the Company. In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause after the first anniversary and prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date, he shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay a proportionate amount of the Cash Award to the Company based on the ratio of the number of days from the date of termination until such second anniversary to 730 days. In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, Executive shall have no obligation to repay the Cash Award upon a voluntary termination of his employment for any reason thereafter. | ||
| 5.7 | Stock Purchase Award. As a further inducement, on the Effective Date, Executive shall receive a cash award in the amount of $500,000, provided that Executive expends the after-tax proceeds of which (based on maximum marginal tax rates) to purchase 500,000 shares, or such lesser number of shares as can be purchased with the full amount of such after-tax proceeds, of Company common stock on the Effective Date (based on the Market Value Per Share on the Effective Date) (the “Stock Purchase Award”). Executive shall hold the Stock Purchase Award in accordance with the Company’s stock ownership policy for its officers. In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, he shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay the Company an amount equal to the product of the number of shares constituting the Stock Purchase Award multiplied by the Market Value Per Share on the |
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| date of such termination (the “Stock Purchase Repayment Amount”). In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause after the first anniversary and prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date, he shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay a proportionate amount of the Stock Purchase Repayment Amount to the Company based on the ratio of the number of days from the date of termination until such second anniversary to 730 days. In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, Executive shall have no obligation to repay the Stock Purchase Repayment Amount upon a voluntary termination of his employment for any reason thereafter. | |||
| 5.8 | Inducement Award. As a further inducement, on the Effective Date, Executive shall be entitled to receive a cash award in the amount of $2,000,000 (“Special Cash Award”), payable in two equal installments the first of which shall be paid on the Effective Date and the second of which shall be paid not later than July 1, 2010, provided that Executive remains continuously employed until such date to be entitled to receive such second installment. In the event of a termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or Executive’s voluntary termination of his employment for Good Reason, the second installment of the Special Cash Award, if then unpaid, shall be paid to Executive within thirty (30) days following Executive’s such termination (subject to Executive’s entering into a release of claims provided under Section 6.4). In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay the amount of the Special Cash Award, previously paid to him, in full to the Company. In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause after the first anniversary and prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay a proportionate amount of the Special Cash Award to the Company based on the ratio of the number of days from the date of termination until such second anniversary to 730 days. In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the second installment of the Special Cash Award, if then unpaid, shall be paid immediately to Executive and he shall have no obligation to repay any portion of the Special Cash Award upon his voluntary termination for any reason thereafter. Except as provided above, the unpaid portion of the Special Cash Award shall be forfeited upon a termination of Executive’s employment. | ||
| 5.9 | Relocation Expenses. Executive shall relocate his principal residence from the metropolitan Cleveland area. Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement of his reasonable relocation expenses incurred for a relocation of his principal residence and temporary living expenses in accordance with the Company’s relocation program applicable to its senior executives. | ||
| 5.10 | Vacation. In addition to legal holidays observed by the Company, Executive shall be entitled to twenty (20) days of paid vacation per year, which vacation days shall accrue and be useable by Executive in accordance with the Company’s standard vacation policies. Upon termination of employment, the Company shall promptly pay Executive any accrued and unused vacation days. |
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| 5.11 | Supplemental Benefit. |
| 5.11.1 | To compensate Executive for a lost opportunity to receive future cash benefits from his previous employer, Executive shall be entitled to a cash make-whole benefit in the amount of $2,200,000, vesting and becoming payable in equal annual installments on each of the first six (6) anniversaries of the Effective Date, provided that Executive is continuously employed by the Company on each such anniversary for such respective installments to so vest (“Supplemental Benefit”). Upon each vesting date, the vested installment shall be paid to Executive within thirty (30) days thereafter. In the event of the involuntary termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or voluntary termination by Executive for Good Reason, Executive shall thereafter become vested and entitled to payment of such installments of the Supplemental Benefit, as and when the installments otherwise are due hereunder, as would have been become vested and payable to Executive during the period ending on the second anniversary of such termination had Executive’s employment not so terminated (subject to Executive’s entering into a release of claims provided under Section 6.4 upon such termination); provided, Executive shall immediately forfeit any such unpaid installments upon a breach of any covenant under Section 9 (non-competition) or Section 10 (non-solicitation) hereof. In the event of Executive’s death or termination of employment due to his Disability, Executive shall vest in a pro rata portion of the installment otherwise payable on the next succeeding anniversary date following such death or termination (such proration shall be based on the ratio of the number of days employed since the immediately preceding anniversary date to 365) which amount shall be paid to Executive within thirty (30) days following Executive’s death or termination. Except as otherwise provided under this Section 5.11, Executive shall forfeit the unpaid amount of his Supplemental Benefit upon a termination of his employment. | ||
| 5.11.2 | The Company shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to assist Executive in the issuance on or about the Effective Date of a letter of credit in Executive’s favor, in the amount of $1,100,000, from a financial institution reasonably acceptable to Executive, and expiring sixty (60) days after the third anniversary of the Effective Date, for the purpose of paying amounts that may become payable to Executive under this Section 5.11. As a condition of payment to Executive, as and when each of the first three installments vests hereunder, Executive shall direct the issuer of the letter of credit to disburse the gross payment less applicable federal and state income and employment withholding tax obligations on the gross amount. |
| 5.12 | Expenses. During the term of Executive’s employment hereunder, Executive shall be entitled to receive prompt reimbursement for all reasonable expenses incurred by Executive in performing services hereunder, including all expenses of travel and living expenses while away from home on business or at the request or and in the service of the Company, provided that such expenses are incurred and accounted for in accordance with the policies and procedures as reasonably established by the Company. | ||
| 5.13 | Other Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in all of the Company’s benefit plans or arrangements, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, as in effect from time to time with respect generally to senior executives; provided, Executive’s allowance for perquisites under the applicable perquisite program of the Company shall be in the |
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| amount of $100,000 for each fiscal year (which will not be prorated for fiscal 2009). The Executive shall have access to chartered corporate aircraft for business travel to the extent provided under the Company’s travel policy. The Company shall pay the professional fees and costs incurred by Executive in connection with the negotiation and documentation of his employment arrangements in an amount not to exceed $25,000. |
| 6. | Termination. |
| 6.1 | Termination for Any Reason. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may terminate Executive’s employment at any time for any reason with or without notice. Executive may voluntarily terminate his employment at any time for any reason after giving the Company not less than thirty (30) days prior notice of such termination. The Term shall terminate upon any such termination of employment. | ||
| 6.2 | Termination Upon Death or Disability. Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate upon his death. In the event that Executive’s employment terminates due to his death or Disability, he shall be entitled to (i) his accrued and unpaid Base Salary and accrued and unused vacation, payable not later than the first complete payroll payment date following such termination, (ii) his unreimbursed business expenses incurred prior to such termination, payable in accordance with the policies and procedures applicable under Section 5.13, (iii) his accrued and vested benefits under all employee benefit plans in which Executive is a participant, payable in accordance with the terms of such plans (collectively, Executive’s “Accrued Obligations”), and (iv) a bonus based on actual performance under the annual incentive program and pro rated based on the ratio of the number of days employed during the fiscal year to 365, and paid when annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives. Executive shall also be entitled to any unpaid annual and long term cash bonus earned for a completed previous performance period, payable when such bonuses are paid to other senior executives (“Prior Bonus”). Upon payment of such amounts and benefits, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive. For all purposes under this Agreement, “Disability” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s Executive Severance Plan (or successor to such plan). | ||
| 6.3 | Termination by the Company For Cause. In the event that the Company terminates Executive’s employment for Cause, Executive shall be entitled to his Accrued Obligations. Upon payment of such amounts and benefits, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive. | ||
| 6.4 | Termination by the Company Without Cause; by Executive for Good Reason. |
| 6.4.1 | In the event that the Company involuntarily terminates Executive’s employment without Cause (and not due to Disability) or Executive voluntarily terminates his employment for Good Reason, Executive shall be entitled to (i) his Accrued Obligations and any Prior Bonus, (ii) severance in an amount equal to twenty-four (24) months of Executive’s Base Salary, payable in regular payroll installments over the twenty-four (24) month period commencing on the date of Executive’s termination, (iii) a bonus based on actual performance under the annual incentive program and pro rated based on the ratio of the number of days employed during the fiscal year to 365, and paid when annual bonuses are paid to other senior executives, (iv) medical, dental, prescription drug, basic life insurance and employee assistance program benefits for twenty-four (24) months following the date of Executive’s termination subject to Executive’s payment of |
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| any required employee contributions consistent with those contributions required of active employees of the Company (and which benefits shall be coterminous with Executive’s entitlement to COBRA health benefits continuation), and (v) outplacement benefits (having a cost not exceeding $50,000); provided, such payments and benefits provided under clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) shall be subject to Executive entering into a complete release of all claims in the form then applicable for such a termination under the Company’s Executive Severance Plan (or any successor to such plan); further provided, the severance amount payable under clause (ii) and the benefit continuation period provided under clause (iv) shall be reduced to such amount and period as applies by excluding from any such severance payments and benefit continuation period under clauses (ii) and (iv) as would apply after the date Executive attains age 65. Upon payment of such amounts and benefits, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive. All amounts payable under this Section 6.4 shall be in lieu of and not in addition to any amount that otherwise might be payable under the Company’s Executive Severance Plan (or successor to such plan) upon such a termination. | |||
| 6.4.2 | For all purposes under this Agreement, “Cause” shall mean and include (i) a willful and material misappropriation of any monies or assets or properties of the Company; (ii) a willful and material breach by Executive of the terms of this Agreement that is demonstrably injurious to the Company and that has not been cured within thirty (30) days after written notice to Executive of the breach, which notice shall specify the breach and the nature of conduct necessary to cure such breach; or (iii) the conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendre, by Executive to a felony or to any criminal offense involving Executive’s moral turpitude. | ||
| 6.4.3 | For all purposes under this Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following without the Executive’s consent: (i) any material adverse change by the Company in Executive’s title, position, authority or reporting relationships with the Company; (ii) the Company’s requirement that Executive relocate to a location in excess of fifty (50) miles from the Company’s current office location or from any future office location acceptable to Executive; or (iii) any material breach by the Company of this Agreement which is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice thereof by Executive to the Company, which notice shall specify the breach and the nature of conduct necessary to cure such breach. |
| 6.5 | Termination By Executive Other than for Good Reason. In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment other than due to Disability and other than for Good Reason, he shall be entitled to his Accrued Obligations. Upon payment of such amounts and benefits, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive. | ||
| 6.6 | Termination Upon Expiration of the Term. In the event Executive’s employment is terminated by the Company or Executive upon the expiration of the Term, Executive shall be entitled to his Accrued Obligations and any Prior Bonus. Upon payment of such amounts and benefits, the Company shall have no further obligation to Executive. |
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| 7. | Confidential Information. |
| 7.1 | During the period of Executive’s employment and at all times thereafter, Executive shall protect and not disclose Proprietary Information, except as may be required to discharge his duties hereunder or if Executive is required by law, regulation, or court order to disclose any Proprietary Information. “Proprietary Information” is all information, whether or not reduced to writing (or in a form from which information can be obtained, translated, or derived into reasonably usable form) or maintained in the mind or memory of Executive and whether compiled or created by the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any affiliates of the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company Group”), which derives independent economic value from not being readily known to or ascertainable by proper means by others who can obtain economic value from the disclosure or use of such information, of a proprietary, private, secret or confidential (including, without exception, inventions, products, processes, methods, techniques, formulas, compositions, compounds, projects, developments, sales strategies, plans, research data, clinical data, financial data, personnel data, computer programs, customer and supplier lists, trademarks, service marks, copyrights (whether registered or unregistered), artwork, and contacts at or knowledge of customers or prospective customers) nature concerning the Company Group’s business, business relationships or financial affairs; provided however, that Proprietary Information shall not include any information that (i) has become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by Executive, or (ii) was available or became known to Executive prior to the disclosure of such information on a non-confidential basis without breach of any duty of confidentiality from any party to the Company and Executive. | ||
| 7.2 | Executive further agrees that his obligation not to disclose or to use information and materials of the types, and his obligation to return materials and tangible property, set forth in this Section 7 also extends to such types of information, materials and tangible property of customers of the Company Group, consultants for the Company, suppliers to the Company, or other third parties who may have disclosed or entrusted the same to the Company or to Executive. | ||
| 7.3 | Executive’s obligations under this Section 7 are in addition to, and not in limitation of, all other obligations of confidentiality under the Company’s policies, general legal or equitable principles or statutes. |
| 8. | Statements to Third Parties. |
| 8.1 | During the period of Executive’s employment and at all times thereafter, other than in connection with the performance of his duties hereunder, Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, make or cause to be made any statements, including but not limited to, comments in books or printed media, to any third parties criticizing or disparaging the Company Group or commenting on the character or business reputation of the Company Group and resulting in a material adverse impact upon the Company. Without the prior written consent of the Board, unless otherwise required by law, Executive shall not (i) publicly comment in a manner materially adverse to the Company Group concerning the status, plans or prospects of the business of the Company Group or (ii) publicly comment in a manner materially adverse to the Company Group concerning the status, plans or prospects of any existing, threatened or potential claims or litigation involving the Company Group; provided, nothing herein shall preclude honest and good faith reporting by Executive to appropriate Company or legal enforcement authorities. |
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| 8.2 | During the period of Executive’s employment and at all times thereafter, other than in connection with the performance of the duties of Company senior executives (other than Executive), no senior executive of the Company (other than Executive) shall, directly or indirectly, make or cause to be made any statements, including but not limited to, comments in books or printed media, to any third parties criticizing or disparaging Executive or commenting on the character or business reputation of Executive, and resulting in a material adverse impact upon Executive. Nothing herein shall preclude honest and good faith reporting by the Company to appropriate legal enforcement authorities. |
| 9. | Non-Competition. For a period commencing on the Effective Date and continuing for twenty-four (24) months following Executive’s termination of employment for any reason (the “Restricted Period”), Executive covenants and agrees that Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in any activities on behalf of or have an interest in any Competitor of the Company Group, whether as an owner, investor, executive, manager, employee, independent consultant, contractor, advisor, or otherwise, other than ownership of less than one percent (1%) of any class of stock in a publicly traded corporation. A “Competitor” is any entity doing business directly or indirectly (as an owner, investor, provider of capital or otherwise) in the United States including any territory of the United States (the “Territory”) that provides products or services that are the same or similar to the products or services that are being provided by any member of the Company Group at the time of Executive’s termination or that were provided by a member of the Company Group during the two-year period prior to Executive’s termination of employment. Executive acknowledges and agrees that due to the continually evolving nature of the Company Group’s industry, the scope of its business or the identities of Competitors may change over time. Executive further acknowledges and agrees that the Company Group markets its products and services on a nationwide basis, encompassing the Territory and that the restrictions imposed by this covenant, including the geographic scope, are reasonably necessary to protect the Company Group’s legitimate interests. | |
| 10. | Non-Solicitation. Executive hereby covenants and agrees that he shall not during the Restricted Period, directly or indirectly, individually or on behalf of any other person or entity: |
| 10.1 | Hire or employ or assist in hiring or employing any person who was at any time during the last 6 months of Executive’s employment an employee, representative or agent of any member of the Company Group or solicit, aid, induce or attempt to solicit, aid, induce or persuade, directly or indirectly, any person who is an employee, representative, or agent of any member of the Company Group to leave his or her employment with any member of the Company Group to accept employment with any other person or entity provided, however, the foregoing shall not prohibit advertisements for employment placed in newspapers or other media of general circulation to the general public; or | ||
| 10.2 | Solicit any customer of the Company Group, or any person or entity whose business the Company Group had solicited during the 180-day period prior to termination of Executive’s employment for purposes of business which is competitive to the Company Group within the Territory. |
| 11. | Developments. Executive acknowledges and agrees that he shall make full and prompt disclosure to the Company of all inventions, improvements, discoveries, methods, developments, software, mask works, and works of authorship, whether patentable or copyrightable or not, (i) which relate to the Company’s business and have heretofore been created, made, conceived or reduced to practice by Executive or under his direction or jointly with others, and not assigned to |
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| prior employers, or (ii) which have utility in or relate to the Company’s business and are created, made, conceived or reduced to practice by Executive or under his direction or jointly with others during his employment with the Company, whether or not during normal working hours or on the premises of the Company (all of the foregoing of which are collectively referred to in this Agreement as “Developments”). Executive further agrees to enter into the Company’s standard form of invention and disclosure agreement that is required of all new employees. Executive further agrees to cooperate fully with the Company, both during and his employment with the Company, with respect to the procurement, maintenance and enforcement of copyrights, patents and other intellectual property rights (both in the United States and other countries) relating to Developments. Executive shall not be required to incur or pay any costs or expenses in connection with the rendering of such cooperation. | ||
| 12. | Remedies. Executive and the Company agree that the covenants contained in Sections 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 (the “Covenants”) are reasonable under the circumstances, and further agree that if in the opinion of any court of competent jurisdiction any such Covenant is not reasonable in any respect, such court shall have the right, power and authority to sever or modify any provision or provisions of such Covenants as to the court will appear not reasonable and to enforce the remainder of the covenants as so amended. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the remedy at law available to the Company for breach of any of Executive’s obligations under the Covenants would be inadequate and that damages flowing from such a breach may not readily be susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, Executive acknowledges, consents and agrees that, in addition to any other rights or remedies that the Company may have at law, in equity or under this Agreement, upon adequate proof of Executive’s violation of any Covenant, the Company shall be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach, without the necessity of proof of actual damage or of posting any bond. | |
| 13. | Indemnification; Insurance. |
| 13.1 | On the Effective Date, the Company and Executive shall enter into the Company’s standard form of director and officer indemnification agreement. | ||
| 13.2 | Executive has advised the Company that he may incur a forfeiture of accrued and vested pension benefits in the amount of $2,100,000, or a loss of special termination benefits in the amount of $900,000, or both, in connection with his termination of employment with his previous employer and commencement of employment with the Company. To the extent that Executive substantiates such obligation to him and his previous employer does not pay such amounts to Executive when due to him under the applicable compensation plan of his previous employer, the Company shall pay such amount to Executive at such time to make him whole for such forfeiture; provided, that Executive shall repay to the Company all amounts he thereafter recovers from his previous employer, Executive shall exercise all reasonable efforts to collect such amount from his previous employer (provided that the Company reimburses Executive for the expenses he incurs in connection with such collection efforts), and in all events the Company shall be subrogated to all rights that Executive has in such amount payable by his previous employer and the Company shall have a right to offset other compensation payable to Executive by the amount he recovers from his previous employer in such circumstances. In the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause prior to the first anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay in full any amount paid by the Company to Executive under this Section 13.2. In |
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| the event that Executive voluntarily terminates his employment (other than for Good Reason) or the Company involuntary terminates his employment for Cause after the first anniversary and prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Date, Executive shall within ten (10) days thereafter repay a proportionate portion of any amount paid to Executive under this Section 13.2 based on the ratio of the number of days from the date of termination until such second anniversary to 730 days. In the event that the Company involuntarily terminates Executive’s employment without Cause, Executive voluntarily terminates his employment for Good Reason, Executive dies or his employment terminates due to his Disability, Executive (or the legal representative of his estate in the event of Executive’s death) shall remain entitled to all amounts payable to Executive, subject to the obligations of Executive, under this Section 13.2 above. In the event of Executive’s termination of employment other than as provided in this Section 13.2 above, he shall forfeit all unpaid amounts provided under this Section 13.2. |
| 14. | Change in Control. Executive shall participate in the Company’s Executive Severance Plan, other than provisions respecting a termination of employment prior to the occurrence of a change in control thereunder. | |
| 15. | Representation; Legal Restrictions. Executive represents and warrants to the Company that Executive is not a party to any contract, agreement or understanding, written or oral, including, without limitation, any agreement containing any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other restrictions on your activities, which could prevent Executive from entering into this Agreement or performing all of Executive’s duties and obligations hereunder, other than as has been disclosed by Executive. | |
| 16. | Withholding. The Company may withhold from any and all amounts payable under this Agreement such federal, state and local taxes as may be required to be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation. | |
| 17. | Notice. For the purposes of this Agreement, notices, demands and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or (unless otherwise specified) mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as set forth above, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt. | |
| 18. | Miscellaneous. |
| 18.1 | The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. | ||
| 18.2 | Sections 6 (respecting any termination of employment occurring prior to expiration of the Term),7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 15 (and such provisions of Section 18 as are relevant) of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall survive the termination of Executive’s employment and the expiration or other termination of this Agreement. | ||
| 18.3 | If Executive becomes entitled to (including Executive having satisfied his obligation to enter into a release of claims) and/or is at any time receiving severance payments under Section 6.4 and, following the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, the Company fails to pay any installment of such severance payments within |
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| fifteen (15) days after the date such installment is due and payable, the provisions of Section 9 and 10.2 hereof shall cease to apply to Executive. | |||
| 18.4 | Any dispute, controversy or question arising under, out of, or relating to this Agreement (or the breach thereof), or, Executive’s employment with the Company or termination thereof, other than those disputes relating to Executive’s alleged violations of Sections 7, 8.1, 9, 10 and 11, or the Company’s alleged violation of Section 8.2, of this Agreement shall be referred for binding arbitration in Toledo, Ohio. Such arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the National Rules for Resolution of Commercial Disputes of the American Arbitration Association (“Rules”). The parties shall select a neutral arbitrator and this shall be the sole means for resolving such dispute; provided, if the parties are unable to agree to an arbitrator, an arbitrator will be selected in accordance with the Rules. Each party shall be responsible for his or its attorneys fees and litigation expenses, however, the Company shall pay the costs of the arbitration. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. This Section 18.4 shall not apply to any action by the Company to enforce Sections 7, 8.1, 9, 10 or 11, or by Executive to enforce Section 8.2, of this Agreement and shall not in any way restrict the Company’s remedies under Section 12 of this Agreement. | ||
| 18.5 | It is the intent of the parties that this Agreement be administered so as to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (“Section 409A”) and all applicable regulations. The parties intend that any payment due hereunder shall be delayed or adjusted as deemed reasonably necessary to avoid the imposition of Section 409A penalties upon Executive. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing and any provision in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, if any portion of the payments or benefits to be received by Executive under this Agreement would be considered deferred compensation under Section 409A, then the following provisions shall apply to the relevant portion: |
| 18.5.1 | For purposes of this Agreement, no payment that would otherwise be made and no benefit that would otherwise be provided upon a termination of employment shall be made or provided unless and until such termination of employment is also a “separation from service” (as determined in accordance with Section 409A); | ||
| 18.5.2 | If Executive is a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and determined pursuant to procedures adopted by the Company) at the time of a separation from service, each portion of such payments and benefits that would otherwise be payable pursuant to this Agreement upon a separation from service during the six (6) month period immediately following the separation from service shall instead be paid or made available on the earlier of (i) the first business day of the seventh month following the date Executive incurs a separation from service, and (ii) Executive’s death (the applicable date, the “Permissible Payment Date”); | ||
| 18.5.3 | With respect to any amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement under this Agreement, such expenses shall be reimbursed by the Company within 60 calendar days (or, if applicable, on the Permissible Payment Date) following the date on which the Company receives the applicable invoice from Executive but |
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| in no event later than December 31 of the year following the year in which Executive incurs the related expense; | |||
| 18.5.4 | Payments delayed under this Section 18.5 as a result of the application of Section 409A shall not accrue interest. In no event shall the reimbursements or in-kind benefits to be provided by the Company in one taxable year affect the amount of reimbursements or in-kind benefits to be provided in any other taxable year, nor shall Executive’s right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit; and | ||
| 18.5.5 | Each payment under this Agreement shall be considered a “separate payment.” |
| 18.6 | The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect. | ||
| 18.7 | Any waiver, alteration, amendment or modification of any of the terms of this Agreement shall be valid only if made in writing and signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that any such waiver, alteration, amendment or modification is consented to on the Company’s behalf by the Board or a Committee or member thereof as may be duly authorized by the Board. No waiver by either of the parties hereto of their rights hereunder shall be deemed to constitute a waiver with respect to any subsequent occurrences or transactions hereunder unless such waiver specifically states that it is to be construed as a continuing waiver. | ||
| 18.8 | This Agreement, and Executive’s rights and obligations hereunder, may not be assigned or delegated by him. The Company may assign its rights, and delegate its obligations, hereunder to any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company, or any successor to the Company, specifically including the Covenants. The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon its respective successors and assigns. The rights and obligations of Executive under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon his heirs and legatees. | ||
| 18.9 | This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding and agreement of the parties hereto regarding the employment of Executive. This Agreement supersedes all prior negotiations, discussions, correspondence, communications, understandings and agreements between the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement. | ||
| 18.10 | The headings of the sections and subsections of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part thereof, affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or of any term or provision hereof. Words of one gender shall be interpreted to mean words of another gender when necessary to construe this Agreement, and in like manner words in singular may be interpreted to be in the plural, and vice versa. Use of the word “or” shall mean “either or both” and use of the word “including” shall be “without limitation.” | ||
| 18.11 | This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The execution of this Agreement may be by actual or facsimile signature. |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date first above written.
Xxxx Holding Corporation
By:
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/s/Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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| Chief Executive Officer |
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